LONDON – Tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King has spent her life fighting for gender equality and championing the rights of the LGBTQ community, so it would hardly be surprising if she joined the long list of those criticising Qatar as World Cup 2022 host.

The American, however, believes staging football’s blue-riband tournament in the conservative Arab state can open minds and become a power for good.

Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and restrictive social laws which prohibit same-sex relationships have led many to question world governing body Fifa’s decision to award it the hosting rights.

But King, who in 2009 was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom for her advocacy work on behalf of women and the LGBTQ community, pointed out that the WTA Tour she helped create used to stage its end-of-season tournament in Doha.

Asked if she would be happy to host the Billie Jean Cup Finals, which will be held in Glasgow from Nov 8-13, in Qatar, she said: “I probably would be because, first of all, the WTA went there years ago.

“I get a lot of different people coming to me saying, ‘Why would you play there the way they treat women?’

“But, personally, I think it’s important to show up and be an influencer. I think it’s delicate, no question. But I think it’s important to go if you get the opportunity and everything else fits, too, not just go there for money or whatever.”

Qatar’s government has said its labour system is a work in progress, but denied a 2021 Amnesty report that said thousands of migrant workers were still being exploited. Organisers of the World Cup, which starts on Nov 20, say that everyone, no matter their sexual orientation or background, is welcome.

The 78-year-old King, who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and paved the way for equal prize money at the four Majors, said staging the WTA Finals in Doha had created opportunities for female tennis players in the country.

“We were there four or five years and I think it helped,” she said. “When I went there, I did a clinic for the kids, but only for the girls. Somebody was left-handed, which is sinister to them, and this mother was saying she hoped her left-handed daughter could one day become a champion and get rid of that stigma.

“These are the kind of discussions you can have when you’re physically there. So I’m big on going actually, even if I know it’s a fine line of how you do it.” REUTERS